MiniBooNE

The physics motivations, design, and status of the Booster Neutrino Experiment at Fermilab, MiniBooNE, are briefly discussed. Particular emphasis is given on the ongoing preparatory work that is needed for the MiniBooNE muon neutrino to electron neutrino oscillation appearance search. This search aims to confirm or refute in a definitive and independent way the evidence for neutrino oscillations reported by the LSND experiment.Comment: 3 pages, no figures, to appear in the proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP 2005), Zaragoza, Spain, 10-14 Sep 200

Cosmo MSW effect for mass varying neutrinos

We consider neutrinos with varying masses which arise in scenarios relating neutrino masses to the dark energy density in the universe. We point out that the neutrino mass variation can lead to level crossing and thus a cosmo MSW effect, having dramatic consequences for the flavor ratio of astrophysical neutrinos.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, more detailed discussions, version to be published by Mod. Phys. Lett.

Solar panels as air Cherenkov detectors for extremely high energy cosmic rays

Increasing interest towards the observation of the highest energy cosmic rays has motivated the development of new detection techniques. The properties of the Cherenkov photon pulse emitted in the atmosphere by these very rare particles indicate low-cost semiconductor detectors as good candidates for their optical read-out. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the viability of solar panels for this purpose. The experimental framework resulting from measurements performed with suitably-designed solar cells and large conventional photovoltaic areas is presented. A discussion on the obtained and achievable sensitivities follows.Comment: 6 pages, 8 eps figures included with epsfig, uses espcrc2.sty. Talk given at the Sixth Topical Seminar on Neutrino and Astroparticle Physics, San Miniato, Italy, 17-21 May 199

Single-chip, mid-infrared array for room temperature video rate imaging

The need for energy efficiency and lower emissions from industrial plants and infrastructures is driving research into novel sensor technologies, especially those that allow observing and measuring greenhouse gases, such as CO2CO2. CO2CO2 emissions can be captured using mid-infrared imagers, but at present, these are based on hybrid technologies that need expensive manufacturing and require cooling. The high price tag prevents a wider diffusion of mid-infrared imagers and hence their use for many low-cost and large-volume applications. Here we report a monolithic III-V technology that integrates GaAs transistors with an InSb photodiode array. The monolithic material system reduces costs and provides an excellent platform for the sensor system-on-chip. We present a focal plane array imaging technology operating at room temperature in the 3–6 μm wavelength range that will address the need for identification and measurement of a range of industrially important gases.ESPRC 58833, ESPRC 6672

Homogenous recycling of transuranium elements from irradiated fast reactor fuel by the EURO-GANEX solvent extraction process

The EURO-GANEX process was developed forco-separating transuranium elements from irradiatednuclear fuels. A hot flow-sheet trial was performed in acounter-current centrifugal contactor setup, using a genuinehigh active feed solution. Irradiated mixed (carbide,nitride) U80Pu20 fast reactor fuel containing 20 % Pu wasthermally treated to oxidise it to the oxide form which wasthen dissolved in HNO3. From this solution uranium wasseparated to >99.9 % in a primary solvent extraction cycleusing 1.0 mol/L DEHiBA (N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)isobutyramidein TPH (hydrogenated tetrapropene) as the organicphase. The raffinate solution from this process, containing10 g/L Pu, was further processed in a second cycle of solventextraction. In this EURO-GANEX flow-sheet, TRU andfission product lanthanides were firstly co-extracted intoa solvent composed of 0.2 mol/L TODGA (N,N,N′,N′-tetran-octyl diglycolamide) and 0.5 mol/L DMDOHEMA (N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-dioctyl-2-(2-hexyloxy-ethyl) malonamide)dissolved in Exxsol D80, separating them from most otherfission and corrosion products. Subsequently, the TRUwere selectively stripped from the collected loaded solventusing a solution containing 0.055 mol/L SO3-Ph-BTP(2,6-bis(5,6-di(3-sulphophenyl)-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridinetetrasodium salt) and 1 mol/L AHA (acetohydroxamicacid) in 0.5 mol/L HNO3; lanthanides were finally strippedusing 0.01 mol/L HNO3. Approximately 99.9 % of the TRUand less than 0.1 % of the lanthanides were found in theproduct solution, which also contained the major fractionsof Zr and Mo

Experiment Simulation Configurations Used in DUNE CDR

The LBNF/DUNE CDR describes the proposed physics program and experimental design at the conceptual design phase. Volume 2, entitled The Physics Program for DUNE at LBNF, outlines the scientific objectives and describes the physics studies that the DUNE collaboration will perform to address these objectives. The long-baseline physics sensitivity calculations presented in the DUNE CDR rely upon simulation of the neutrino beam line, simulation of neutrino interactions in the far detector, and a parameterized analysis of detector performance and systematic uncertainty. The purpose of this posting is to provide the results of these simulations to the community to facilitate phenomenological studies of long-baseline oscillation at LBNF/DUNE. Additionally, this posting includes GDML of the DUNE single-phase far detector for use in simulations. DUNE welcomes those interested in performing this work as members of the collaboration, but also recognizes the benefit of making these configurations readily available to the wider community.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, configurations in ancillary file

Silicon photonic processor of two-qubit entangling quantum logic

Entanglement is a fundamental property of quantum mechanics, and is a primary resource in quantum information systems. Its manipulation remains a central challenge in the development of quantum technology. In this work, we demonstrate a device which can generate, manipulate, and analyse two-qubit entangled states, using miniature and mass-manufacturable silicon photonics. By combining four photon-pair sources with a reconfigurable six-mode interferometer, embedding a switchable entangling gate, we generate two-qubit entangled states, manipulate their entanglement, and analyse them, all in the same silicon chip. Using quantum state tomography, we show how our source can produce a range of entangled and separable states, and how our switchable controlled-Z gate operates on them, entangling them or making them separable depending on its configuration

Measurement of the neutrino component of an anti-neutrino beam observed by a non-magnetized detector

Two independent methods are employed to measure the neutrino flux of the anti-neutrino-mode beam observed by the MiniBooNE detector. The first method compares data to simulated event rates in a high purity \numu induced charged-current single \pip (CC1\pip) sample while the second exploits the difference between the angular distributions of muons created in \numu and \numub charged-current quasi-elastic (CCQE) interactions. The results from both analyses indicate the prediction of the neutrino flux component of the pre-dominately anti-neutrino beam is over-estimated - the CC1\pip analysis indicates the predicted \numu flux should be scaled by $0.76 \pm 0.11$, while the CCQE angular fit yields $0.65 \pm 0.23$. The energy spectrum of the flux prediction is checked by repeating the analyses in bins of reconstructed neutrino energy, and the results show that the spectral shape is well modeled. These analyses are a demonstration of techniques for measuring the neutrino contamination of anti-neutrino beams observed by future non-magnetized detectors.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, published in Physical Review D, latest version reflects changes from referee comment

A Search for Electron Antineutrino Appearance at the Δm2∼\Delta m^2 \sim 1 eV2\mathrm{eV}^{2} Scale

The MiniBooNE Collaboration reports initial results from a search for $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}\to\bar{\nu}_e$ oscillations. A signal-blind analysis was performed using a data sample corresponding to $3.39 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target. The data are consistent with background prediction across the full range of neutrino energy reconstructed assuming quasielastic scattering, $200 < E_{\nu}^{QE} < 3000$ MeV: 144 electron-like events have been observed in this energy range, compared to an expectation of $139.2 \pm 17.6$ events. No significant excess of events has been observed, both at low energy, 200-475 MeV, and at high energy, 475-1250 MeV. The data are inconclusive with respect to antineutrino oscillations suggested by data from the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector at Los Alamos National Laboratory.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 2 table